Chapter Two

Maryanne sat through her flight, unable to wipe the smirk off her face. She had finally taken the first step toward freedom and she was very proud of herself.

It was easier than she thought. Perhaps if she trained more, she would be able to control a lot of people to do her bidding, just like Matilda.

The good thing was that not everyone knew about it. Only her older brother, Michael knew about it. Speaking of which, she had texted him immediately after she arrived at the airport and she was more than certain that he would be awaiting her return. She smiled. Of course, she had been rather foolish to leave her family and visit a fool who didn't appreciate her.

The flight ended and she did her checkout. She went to the parking lot and she spotted Michael out easily. Being the Beta's son, he stood out among every man in and around England. She was happy to see him.

Michael was equally excited to see his sister. He could see that she had lost a lot of weight and she didn't look as royal and pretty as she used to.

"Look at you, you have become so ugly," Michael said painfully. "And thin too."

Maryanne smiled guiltily. "Brother!" She hugged him tightly and Michael's face broke into a soft doting smile.

"Let's get you home." He said, collecting her bag from her. Maryanne was happy to be back to receiving love from everyone. She was selfish to have left before, but now she was going to be selfless by doing things for her family.

Michael drove her personally to their home since she wanted her arrival to be secret.

Her parents were just eating together when they heard the door open.

"Must be Michael," Sally said, sipping her tea, elegantly.

Maryanne texted her best friend to say she was around again. The girl could not contain her excitement and promised to be there in a few minutes.

"Mom, Dad," Michael called as he entered behind Maryanne. "You won't believe what came from France."

"French fries?" Sally asked, not looking up.

"Lucky guess," Maryanne said. Both parents turned to stare at her immediately. Sally was so happy, she began to cry.

"My princess! My baby girl!" She ran to hug her tightly. "Oh you've grown so much, two years felt like hell! These men were so boring!" She cried.

Maryanne laughed, hugging her mother just as tight. "I missed you to mama."

Donald got up and moved his wife away carefully, then he pulled Maryanne into a bone-crushing hug.

"Don't give your mother all the hugs and tell me you're tired. Dad has also missed you."

"Yes, but I missed her way more!" Sally said, pushing Donald away from her daughter. "She's my daughter, hug your son."

Donald held a bullied expression. "How unfair." He cried. Michael laughed at his parents. 

"You guys, you're too old for this. Allow her to freshen up so she can eat and rest." He said. "You know how Allison will be when she comes to see her."

Sally and Donald laughed, nodding their heads. 

"We need to celebrate," Donald said. "I'm about to visit the Alpha in the pack house. My daughter missed the mating ceremony for the pack, the next one is going to be a long while. So I can throw a banquet for the return of my daughter."

Maryanne roed her eyes. "Yeah, do what you want Daddy. I'll just go up and have my bath before Allison arrives."

"Where's that crazy woman?!" Came Allison's shrill voice from the door. "Maryanne you witch!"

Maryanne rolled her eyes. "If you're going to insult me like this, I might just get missing again."

"What?! Never princess." Allison said immediately. "Hi Sally, hi Donald, hi Mike. Come on, let's go up! You haven't showered, you reek!" Allison pulled her up the stairs as she spoke.

"And girl, you're so ugly now! You even grew thinner. You fool!"

Maryanne rolled her eyes and allowed herself to be pulled by her best friend. After taking her shower and changing into a nice dress, she sat in her bed, combing her hair.

Allison walked in with a tray of food and wine.

"Come and celebrate the return of a stubborn princess," Allison said as she placed the tray on Maryanne's study desk.

"Let's eat in my bed, duh," Maryanne said. "I miss eating in my bed, doing stuff that will naturally make me gag." 

Allison was so happy that she couldn't hide her smile. She carried the food to meet Maryanne in the bed, sat in with her, and folded her legs beside the tray.

"Let's eat." 

The two girls began to eat the food. Maryanne held a grateful expression on her face, she couldn't believe she was back at home, being fed her mother's food. She was so happy. 

"How was it?"

"It was very bad, very terrible! I can't say all that I went through Alli, it was so bad." Maryanne said softly. "Thomas is just a fool. But I can't help the feeling that I'm the worse fool."

"Never compare yourself to that animal! Never!" Allison warned. "Also, I think you were just stubborn."

"What does it change, Alli? My parents warned me not to go, Michael even went as far as to threaten to cut all communication with me and eventually did that... I still ventured into it, coercing my family into letting me go, and all for what?"

"You learned, didn't you?" Allison inquired. "Will you also say you didn't learn anything?"

"Well, I know I learned something, yeah," Maryanne said. "But there is one thing I'm afraid of."

"What's that?" Allison asked, shoving a piece of toasted bread in her mouth. "Whatever could make the Bullyvan princess afraid?"

"I think my parents will want me to get a mate, I'm turning 24 soon. I will be required to have a mate as soon as possible." 

"That's not an issue," Allison said happily. "There's this beautiful man you should meet."

"Beautiful man?"

"Yes. His eyes, they're golden."